title: Effects of constructivist teaching methods on bioethics education for nursing students: a quasi-experimental study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In order to help nurses advocate for the patient's human rights and ensure respect for life in clinical situations, it is of utmost importance to improve nursing students' capacity to make ethical decisions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study compares the effects of two constructivist teaching strategies (action learning and cross-examination debate) on nursing students' recognition of bioethical issues, experience of bioethical issues, and attainment of ethical competence.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used a quasi-experimental (two-group pretest-posttest) design.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nursing college in South Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 93 Korean nursing students participated in the study (46 in the action learning group and 47 in the cross-examination debate group).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants took a bioethics class employing one or the other of the strategies mentioned, 2h a week for 15 weeks. All participants responded twice to a set of questionnaires, at the beginning of the first session and at the end of the last session.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After their bioethics education, the students' recognition of bioethical issues improved for both classes; however, the knowledge of students who had participated in action learning improved more than that of the students in the debate-based class. Students in both groups reported more experience of bioethics and exposure to better-quality instruction in bioethics after their classes than previously. Students in both groups also reported improved ethical competency after this education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Positive effects of action learning and cross-examination debate implemented as teaching strategies on nursing students' understanding of bioethical issues and their ethical competency were identified; these findings will be important in the essential task of teaching bioethics to nursing students in order to foster more ethical decision-making and other ethical behavior.
authors.affiliation: Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Heoksun-ro 84, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-756, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: choe1201@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Kwisoon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, College of Natural Sciences, Kunsan National University, Gunsan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sunghee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, College of Nursing and Public Health, Kyungil University, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: So Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Yoo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001675:Bioethics / Q000193:education*; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D056910:Republic of Korea; D013338:Students, Nursing; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bioethics; Nursing education; Nursing ethics; Teaching methods